System for lubricating the roll necks of rolling mills



28, 3933. J. L. MILLER ETA L 1,899,472

THE ROLL NECKS of ROLLING MILLS SYSTEM FOR LUBRICATING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1931 J. 1... MILLER ET AL fi v fi SYSTEM FOR LUBRICATING THE ROLL NECKS OF ROLLING MILLS 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11 lNVENTQR a? Ja /v ATTORN EY 3 me MILLS Feb. 28, W33.

J. L. MILLER ET A SYSTEM FOR LUBRICATING THE ROLL NECKS OF ROLL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORN Filed June 11, 1931 Patented Feb. 28, i933 eeann 4 v Jam Li MILLER-"aim HARRY a. 611.033.18 3 YOUNGSTOWN, Q

BYSTEE FOBiUBRICATIN'G THE ROLL NECKS F ROLLING MILLS j hpiilioa fla med m it This "invention relates to an improved l jr lubricatingsysteni, A represents a source of bricating s stem adapted for periodically supplying s iots of a predetermined quantity of lubricant to the roll neck bearings of rolling mills at substantially'uniform time ntervals. i i i I The system includes a source of a lubricant supply and means for hydraulically extrud-' ing a lubricant to a pluralitypf distributors which in turn force the lubricant to a plurality of roll neck hearings on the rolling mills located at points remote from the source I of lubricant' supply. Each distributor includes a plurality of motor dr ven ,plungers operating in respective cylinders, these plungers serving to force redetermined shots of lubricant to each roll caring point, the distributor being served by a manifold common to all of the cylinders, the inlet of lubricant being under control of the plungers and the outflow of lubricant from the distributor being under positive control of mechanically actuated valve members, all as will hereinafter more full appear from the following detailed specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is' a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrating the rolling mill lubricating system in plan; V

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus parts being broken away in the interest oi clearness, other parts being diagrammatically illustrated to facilitate simplicity of illustration; v

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in section showing the distributor and'the power actuated lubricant pp y; i I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section on line Hot Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the distributor, the .view being taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; p Fig. 6 is a view of the strip rolling mill showing rolled neck bearings and the lubricant ducts connected therewith;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

30 by way of three-way valve to pipe 36 into 1931. 'SeriaIi No. 543,698. w w Referringfirst to the general layout of the lubricant supply, which as hereinafter described, includes a hydraulic ram or other fluid actuated means for forcing a. supply of heavy grease-like lubricant to a plurality of distributors B which are connected by ducts a with the supply source A. The distributors are connected by suitable ducts hereinafter described to the roll neck bearings of the rolling mills C.

lteferring'more particularly to Fig. 3, the lubricant-supply includes a cylinder 10 having a chamber 12 normally closedby a head 14 which is removably secured to the cylinder by a yoke 15 having hooked ends 16 which engage the underside of a flange 18 forming part of the cylinder, the yoke carrying athreaded clamp bolt 20, the lower extremity of which presses against a boss .21 formed on the cylinder head.

A plurality of pipes a, lead from the lubricant supply chamber to separate distributor members B. The lubricant is forced from the chamber 12 by means of a piston 22 having a rod 24 connected to a ram 26 operating in a cylinder 28. The ram 26 is adapted .to be reciprocated by a fluid pressure, either hydraulically or by means of compressed air or steam. Assuming the ram to behydraulical- 1y operated, Water under pressure may be sup plied to a pipe 30 leading to a four-way valve 32 which is connected by pipes 34 and 36, respectively, communicating with the top and bottom of the cylinder 28. y

In the position illustrated, the ram 26 and piston 22 have reached the limit of the up stroke, this condition existing when the source of lubricant supply from the cylinder 12' has been substantially exhausted. In the position shown in Fig. 3, the fluid entering the pipe 30 will flow through the four-way valve and by way of pipe 34 to the top of the cylinder. This will retract the ram 26 and the piston 22 whereupon a fresh supply of lubricant will be introduced into the supply chamber 12. The four-way valve will then be turned ninety degrees from the position illustrated. This will permit the fluid to flow from pipe the bottom of the cylinder, thus forcin the ram upwardly and extruding grease-1i e or lfivy lubricant to the several distributors B.

e duce from the pipe 30 is exerted on the under surface of the ram 26 which it is noted is of reater diameter thanfthatioffithepiston 22. him, there is an appreciable pressure differential which greatly facilitates "the ex-- trusion of the heavy lubricant.

Each pipe as leads to a distributor distributors-are of identicalconstrnction anda description of one will sufiice forall. As

' best shown in Figs. 3 to5 inclusive,"each distributor includes a manifold ,38 which is welded o o he w s 'a u I indi a a 40 was distributor structu're 4.2j. This trucf-j ture is 'boredat' spaced intervals' to pro ide 'a plurality" of cylinders 44, "and 'ea'c'h' cylinder manifold ""38,

communicates by means ofa with the.

cross head'48 carries ajniimbei oi plung e rs'5 0 which are shouldered at their'upper ends andisecured thereto" by means of nuts 52. The cross head also hassecured thereto a plurality of guide rods 54 which fsl'i'dably engage guide apertures) 56 formed in the distributor structure. To 'theylower extremi ties of the guiderods is fastened'a' cross bar 58' whichcarr'ies a plurality of adjustablescrews 60 which senate valve members 62.

Valve members 62 within the c'ylinders' l' control the flow of lubricant through outlet. ports 64 to the ducts 66 which lead to the'roll neck bearings 68. Asclearly'indi'c'ate'd' in Figs. 1 and 2, there are four pipes'fifiileading to thegfour bearings 68, two of the ducts serving the top and bottoinrollneck bearings at one side of the rolling mill: and two'other ducts serving the top and bottom roll neck bearings at the other side of the milL':

'The valve members "62 include depending valve stems 70, the lower "extremities of which are adapted to coact with the adjust able screws 60 carried by the'cross bar 58.

These valve stems are guided gland nuts} 72 threaded into thelower part. of the dis-- cou lin '88 and suitable redu'cin gearin F gs g g enc osed in a housing 90, with'a half-horse powervariable spce motor having a speed of four hundred seventy five'to two thousand revolutions per minute;- The gear reductionressure of water, air or steam introing mill lubrication because of the pressure exerted between the necks o the mill rolls and their bearings.

in the transmission enclosement housin is approximately one to four thousand eight hundred thirty, thus it is clear that the torque of the high speed motor is converted into a slow and powerful reciprocating movement which is imparted through the pitmen 80 to h e e tpu spewin wi h n the distributor. This is orim'portance in rollis iessentiala; to; proper lubrication that that lubricant be supplied under high pressure-and at' a'substantlall uniform rate so as to prolon the bearing li e and avoid theobj'ectibnab e interru tion ofrolling due to bearing failuresi the same time, inthe interest of economy, it is'highly desirable to furnishijust so much lubricant as is required to adequately lubricate the'roll neck and its bearin I w scribe distributor. mechanism accomplishes this desirable result in its operation. 7 Upon each stroke'of each pluh er, a predetermined quantity or shot'of lubricant 1s delivered to each roll neck 'bearing. j"

From'th drawings and description, it will of coursebe 'ap arent that ease-like lubri cant'is delivere' under'cons d'erable pressure from the supplyso'urc'e '12 to the manifold! 38'; This pressure will be suflicientto force a lubricant'thr'ough each of the inlet ports 46 without undue waste. The do into" the cylinders '44. But, i this constant pressure notfpermitte'd'to force the lubri-' cant directly to' the rolled neck bearings, the

flow being controlled by the valve members 62 which normally close the outlet ports 64 when thefcross head 48'ison the upstroke or in its" uppermostp'osition, Upon the downward moven' ent of the plunger-s 50, the latter close'oflf communication through ports 46 with the manifold and at the same time the confined body of grease' orother lubricant within"the"cyl inder is forced a ainst the valve-member 62, thus pressing'it ownw'ard- 1y against the 'actionof thespring 76 and uncovering the outlet 0 continued downward plunger forces thepredetermined quantity-or shotof ease to the respective'roll neck bearing. ll head-the screws. GO'car'ried by the cros bar 58'-positively move 'the' va'lve member 62 to the position where they close communication between the cylinders 44 and the outlet port64. v

While we have described quite specifically the structurahfdfetailsof the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, it is not tobe construed that we are limited thereto since various modifications and substitutions of equivalents maybe made by those skilled in' rt 64 whereupon the movemen't'of the" on the upward stroke of the crossthe art without departing'from the invention I as'defined' in the appended'claimsi 1 What We claim is see ers I I 1. A system for lubricating the roll necks structure having a plurality of cylinders, each of which is connected by an individual ,plungers reciprocatingin said cylinders duct with one of said roll neck bearings, or f r forcing lubricant to said bearings, means 0 supplying lubricant to said cylinders, a cross head supporting said plungers, guide rods secured to said cross head and slidingly engaging guide apertures formed in the distributor structure, means for reciprocating said cross head, valve members controlling communication between the cylinders of'said distributor and said roll neck bearings, and means movable in unison with said cross head limiting the movement of said valve members 4 I x inders,respect1ve ports m said cylinders comin one direction and effective to cause their movement in the opposite direction.

2. A system for lubricating the roll necks of rolling mill rolls comprising a plurality of roll neck bearings, a lubricant distributor structure having a plurality of cylinders each of which is connected by an individual duct with one of said roll neck bearings, plungers reciprocating in said cylinders for forcing lubricant to said bearings, a manifold secured to said distributor, inlet ports connectin said cylinders with said manifold, each 0 said ports being located at a point in the length of said cylinders substantially opposite the inner extremities of said plungcrs at the end of their outward stroke, outlet ports, each located at a point in the length of said cylinders substantially or -approximately opposite the inner extremities of said plaungers at their inward stroke, valve memrs slidable in said distributor cylinders arranged to control the flow of lubricant from said 0 linders through said outlet ports, said va ves being adapted to be forced by the lubricant to uncover said outlet ports upon the inward movement of said plungers, power means for reciprocating said plungers, and means movable in unison with said plungers for positively moving said valve members to position to cover said outlet ports.

- 3. A system for lubricating the roll necks of rolling mill rolls including a distributor adapted to. force predetermined shots of lubricant to theroll neck bearings, said distributor having a plurality of cylinders, each adapted to be connected by an individual duct with a roll neck bearing, a cross head carrying plungers which reciprocate in said cylinders, guide rods secured to said cross head and slidable through guide bores formed in the distributor, a motor driven mechanism for reciprocating said cross head and parts connected therewith, a cross bar secured to said guide rods, valve members slidable within said cylinders, lubricant inlet ports adapted to be'alternately covered and v cross head coactin uncovered by said plungers, lubricant outlet ports ada ted to be alternately covered and uncovere by said valve members, valve stems, fittin s secured to the distributor for guiding sai valve members, and adjustable means carried by said cross bar adapted to coact with said valve stems for positivelymoving the valve members to positions to cover said outlet ports.

4. A system for lubricating the roll necks of rolling mill rolls including a distributor adapted to force redetermined shots of lubricant to the rol neck bearin said distributor having a plurality of cy inders, each adapted to be connected by an individual duct with a roll neck bearing, a cross head carrying plungers which reciprocate in said cylinders, a manifold common to said cylmunicating with said manifold adapted to be alternately covered and uncovered-upon reciprocation of said plungers, outlet orts in said cylinders, valve members contro 'ng the passag of lubricant through said'outlet ports, sai valve members having stems for iding them longitudinally of said cyliners, and means movable in unison with said with said stems. In testimony w erect, we have hereunto set our hands.

ARES L. WEB. HARRY R. GILCHRIST. 

